Effects of lithium salt and poly(4-vinyl phenol) on crystalline and amorphous phases in poly(ethylene oxide)

Reducing the Crystallite Size of Spherulites in PEO-Based Polymer Nanocomposites Mediated by Carbon Nanodots and Ag Nanoparticles

The PEO-based polymer nanocomposites were prepared by solution cast method. Green approaches were used for synthesis of carbon nanodots (CNDs) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). It was found that the crystallite size of spherulites of PEO was greatly scarified upon incorporation of CNDs and Ag NPs. In the present work, in opposition to other studies, broadening of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of metallic Ag NPs in PEO-based polymer composites was observed rather than peak tuning. Various techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL), were used to characterize the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the samples. Increase of amorphous phase for the PEO doped with CND particles was shown from the results of XRD analyses. Upon the addition of suspended Ag NPs to the PEO:CNDs composites, significant change of XRD peak position was seen. A field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to investigate the surface morphology of the samples. In the SEM, a significant change in the crystalline structure was seen. The size of PEO spherulites in the PEO nanocomposite samples became smaller and the percentage of amorphous portion became larger, owing to the distribution of CNDs and Ag NPs. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of the PEO-based polymer were found to improve and shift to higher wavelengths upon incorporation of CNDs and Ag NPs into the PEO matrix. The SPR peak broadening in the UV-Vis spectra was observed in the PEO:CNDs composites due to the Ag NPs. The absorption edge value of PEO was found to shift toward lower photon energy as the CNDs and Ag NPs are introduced. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra were also observed for the PEO:CNDs and PEO:CNDs:Ag samples and found to be more intense in the PEO:CNDs system than in the PEO:CNDs:Ag system. Lastly, the optical band gap of the samples was further studied in detail using of Tauc's model and optical dielectric loss parameter. The types of electron transition were specified.

POLYMER ELECTROLYTE BLENDS OF MONO-CARBOXYLIC ACID–MODIFIED EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER AND POLY(ETHYLENEOXIDE)

Natural rubber with 50% of isoprene units epoxidized (ENR50) was treated with excess of mono-carboxylic acids to completely ring open the epoxide groups. The reaction was carried out by heating ENR50 dissolved in toluene with each of acetic and benzoic acid separately at 105 °C. The ring-opening reaction has produced hydroxyl –OH and ester –O-COR groups, leading to an increase in Tg. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. By the solution casting method, each of the modified ENR50s was blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in various ratios in toluene, and 2% lithium perchlorate (LiCIO4) was added as the dopant. Results show that the modified ENR and PEO formed incompatible blends. The PEO spherulite growth rate in the blends increased with PEO content. The electrical conductivity was found to increase with the weight fraction of PEO in the blend. At the ratio of 25/75, the acetic acid–modified ENR50/PEO blend exhibits a conductivity value of 3.1 × 10−8 S cm−1. The benzoic acid–modified ENR50/PEO achieved conductivity of 5.8 × 10−7 S cm−1 at the ratio of 30/70. These blends form conducting polymer electrolytes with potential application in batteries.

In situ observation of the melting behaviour of PEO single crystals on a PVPh substrate by AFM

PVPh sublayer thickness dependent melting of PEO single crystals.